Variationes Ventorum

Variationes Ventorum was written for the Soni Ventorum in 1983 and was made possible by the Seattle Arts Commission's Original Works Program. The work contains nine variations on the Appalachian spiritual, "Changing Seasons." Each of the five odd-numbered variations (quartets) features a different instrument in a solo role. In the four even-numbered variations (trios), the previously featured instrument passes the primary material onto the next. Thus, all nine variations have different instrumental combinations as well as different characters. The finale consists of a passacaglia and canon before the last statement on the theme.